The Articulum
Part 2
By: Lance Holloway
On the secluded mountain top, a castle stood. Lush ivy covered
the well maintained stone walls. The garden was well groomed as well.
Swurg like it that way. He loved his garden. He didn't like having a
filthy castle like the other "bad guys" did. He just couldn't understand
how they could live like that.
Swurg walked from the balcony overlooking the garden and entered
his throne room. He was expecting a messenger to bring him the news
anytime now. Hopefully it is good news. His attack the previous night
on Lortanell proved worthless. The Norrom seekers had left the city
before his dirt men arrived. That started the day off badly.
Swurg hated using the phone himself. He liked to speak to people
face to face. So, he had his servants use the phone. For some of his
servants, that is as close as they will get to talking to someone.
The door to the throne room started to open. Swurg casually
strolled to his throne and sat down. A man's head poked around the
corner. Swurg motioned him to enter. The man slowly entered and closed
the door behind him.
"Master, I have important news," the servant said.
Swurg just nodded.
The servant swallowed. "We just received a call saying that the
new Norrom has been discovered."
"What?!" Swurg shouted. He new he was to receive an important
message, but he didn't know it would be this. "This is terrible. Are
you sure?" The day was getting worse.
"Y-yes, sir. I heard it myself."
"Well, then maybe you need better ears," Swurg said with an
twisted grin. Fright spread across the mans face. His ears turned gray
and grew humongous. He man continued to stare at Swurg not noticing his
new elephant ears. Swurg waited for the man to realize what had
happened. But, the servant was completely oblivious of the change.
Swurg grew tired of this, so he pointed to his ears and then at
the man. The man looked confused then turned to look. He still didn't
notice since his ears moved with his head. Swurg jerked on his own ears.
The man slowly reached up and felt of his. His eyes grew wide with
horror as he felt the leathery ears.
"Th-thank you, Master. They will be a tremendous help," the
servant sputtered out.
"You are dismissed," Swurg said making a shooing motion.
The man turned and walked out of the throne room still examining
his new ears.
Swurg liked doing that to people. The only problem was that he
could do that to people that were loyal to him. But that was a minor
problem compared to what the man said. Somehow he was going to have to
destroy the Norrom before the Norrom could claim his destiny. The Norrom
must be on his way to receive the Articulum now.
"The Articulum," Swurg said out loud. The Articulum gives the
Norrom the power to be the world's leader. It could be used only by the
Norrom. But, somewhere Swurg had heard of another use for it. But what?
Swurg hurried out of the throne room and down the hall to the
library. One of the old tomes had the information. He pulled the first
volume of "Spells and Stuff" and looked up Articulum in the index. It
would have been quicker if Swurg had put all the books in a computer, but
he liked the old way better. It had more of a since of accomplishment.
He thumbed to the page listed and found what he wanted.
The Articulum could be used with the following ritual to gain
magic over all people. This is what Swurg was hoping for. If he could
get the Articulum, he could be the ruler instead of the Norrom. But,
that is going to be tricky. Only the Norrom can find the Articulum. He
is just going to have to follow the Norrom, and let the Norrom lead him
to the Articulum. Then he will destroy the Norrom and take the
Articulum.
The day was turning out better.
----------------------------
The journey started out great. Turlon enjoyed traveling. He had
always dreamed of going on an adventure. And now he is on one. That was
be fine, but the goal of the adventure is what Turlon dreaded.
He didn't want to be Norrom. He didn't want to be ruler of the
world. He didn't want to be part animal. He wanted to be Turlon the
average. He wanted to be Turlon the normal. He wanted to be Turlon.
The other two boys thought Turlon being the Norrom was wonderful.
Peten always wanted to know what it feels like knowing that you are the
ruler of the world. Jamk just thought it was neat to know the Norrom.
Even though Turlon wouldn't like the outcome of the journey, he
wanted to complete it. The sooner Swurg can be disposed of, the better.
He just didn't like the idea that he had to do it.
"This horse is the worst!" Jamk interrupted Turlon's thoughts.
Turlon didn't mind. He was starting to depress himself.
"Don't you complain about Arna," Peten jumped in. "She is a great
horse."
"But, she doesn't ride well," Jamk fussed.
"To bad you couldn't have brought along a video game. You
wouldn't even notice you were riding a horse," Peten snickered.
Jamk glared at Peten. The past few days were really getting to
the three of them. One little remark will set them arguing for hours.
Eventually it will blow over. At least Turlon hoped it does.
"But, she still doesn't ride well," Jamk added.
Suddenly, Jamk's horse bucked Jamk off the saddle. Jamk fell on
his back and slowly sat up. Arna had turned around to face him. Turlon
and Peten stopped their horses and turned to watch.
"Stupid horse," Jamk said.
"Stupid?" Arna said. All three boys' eyes grew with surprise.
Arna walked toward Jamk. Jamk sat on the ground in terror. "I'm not a
stupid horse!" she said standing over Jamk. But, she seemed to be
shorter than before. Then the three noticed that Arna was shrinking.
The saddle slipped off her and fell to the ground. Her equine features
reformed into that of a human. A beautiful woman with black hair was in
the place Arna was a few moments ago. Clothes magically appeared on her
body. She still stood over the shocked Jamk.
Jamk looked up at the woman. He started to say something, but
only a horse's whinney emerged from his mouth. His face pushed forward
into that of a horse's face. His hands and feet became hooves. His
clothes ripped as his body expanded to the size of a large stallion.
Still laying on the ground Jamk looked at his new body. His horse's eyes
were so wide the white was showing.
"Now, I will see how good of a riding horse you are," the woman
said.
Jamk struggled to get up on all fours. He finally made it, and
galloped over to where Turlon and Peten were. Turlon was terrified. He
had just seen his friend get turned into a horse by a horse that turned
into a woman.
"Don't worry, Turlon and Peten. I am just going to change Jamk,"
the woman said. "His complaining got the best of me." She let out a
horsy laugh. The two boys didn't say anything. Their eyes were glued to
her.
"I said, 'Don't Worry'," she repeated. "I am not going to change
you into horses." The boys stayed silent. "It's still me. I am Arna.
I'm just a human now."
"Ch-change him back," Peten sputtered.
"I can't. It's the rules of the spell. Either I'm a horse or
Jamk is. And I think you would prefer me being human. I am much more
experienced than your friend. I've been on so many adventures that I've
lost count."
"But, Jamk doesn't want to be a horse," Turlon said. He finally
got up the nerve to say something.
"How do you know?" Arna asked. They looked at Jamk. He shook his
head. "Oh, give it a try. I've been a horse for years. It's pretty
fun." The two boys looked at their horse friend and back at Arna. "Oh.
all right. I'll at least give him his voice back."
Jamk tried to talk resulting only in horse sounds. Then the human
voice came out. ".... be a horse. Good, I can talk now." His voice
didn't sound anything like he use to. It sounded like a horse if a horse
could talk. "Change me back!"
"I told you I can't," Arna said.
"You said either I'm a horse or you are. So, just change into a
horse and change me back."
"That's not the only rules of the spell. I can't change back into
a horse until a week from now."
"What!?" the boys and Jamk shouted.
"I can't cast the transformation spell until a week has passed.
You are just going to have to get use to being a horse," she said.
"But, I don't want to be a horse," Jamk protested.
"Quit your whining," Arna said picking up the saddle. After a few
attempts, she managed to let Jamk put it on his back. She then mounted.
"Ok. Let's get on with the journey."
Peten and Turlon didn't move. Arna waited and then instructed
Jamk to start walking. Turlon followed and Peten went next. Turlon was
surprised that Jamk had taken to walking on four legs quite easily. Now,
he just needed to get used to the fact that Jamk was now a horse.